cricket20 Text Edition

Top Stories Jones would give IPL 'serious thought' England’s Ashes winning fast bowler Simon Jones has told Setanta Sports News that he would give ‘serious thought’ to any offer he received to join the Indian Premier League. The Worcestershire paceman has endured a torried time of injury since spearheading England’s attack in 2005, but is now once again edging his way back to fitness. The lucrative IPL will kick into action on April 18 and thus far, Dimitri Mascarenhas is the only England player to have signed up to join the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist. English Cricket Board chief Giles Clarke this week confirmed England’s centrally contracted players would not be allowed to join the Twenty20 competition, but Jones sees a great opportunity for players such as himself. “I can’t really comment on the centrally contracted lads because that’s up to the ECB, they’re in charge,” he told Setanta Sports News. But it does give an opportunity to the lads who aren’t centrally contracted and it’s quite exciting. “Obviously I’ve not been approached and I’m not sure what I would do if I was. I still want to play for England so I’d have to give it some serious thought if it did come about. It’s a short career and maybe that’s the way people should look at it. You’re only here once.” Clarke warned that players breaking ranks to go to India would risk their England careers, and Jones admits he is not yet ready to give up on his international future despite his lengthy absence from the top level of the game. “I think I can [still play for England],” he added. “It’s still very early in the season and I don’t want to look too far in advance, I just want to bowl as many overs as I can and hopefully the body will stand up to it. “I think anyone who has played for England would want to again and I don’t see why I can’t. I don’t think there’s any bowlers in that side who could keep me out when I’m at my best.” source - setantasports.com

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